The General Accountability Office typically features excellent researchers and writers. But it seems they might have “buried the lead,” as we say in the journalism business, with their latest...
Is it possible? A kinder, gentler survey proposed
By
James M. Berklan
Oct 01, 2020
The nursing home surveying scene in California has recenlty attracted a lot of national attention lately, as well it should.
No need to cram: You’ve got the survey answers
By
James M. Berklan
May 01, 2020
Everyone can remember that teacher. That really tough one.
Ready or not, here come the federal star ratings
By
James M. Berklan
Nov 01, 2008
The era of the venerated five-star nursing home could be just around the corner. Then again, it might not.
Editor’s Desk: The time is quite right to change survey frequency
By
James M. Berklan
Oct 18, 2019
If nothing else, we have to give Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service Administrator Seema Verma credit for building a plan and sticking to it. So far. But be careful what you ask for. Rumors have flown...
Pragmatism: Surveyors put away their big sticks
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 09, 2017
One of the biggest stories of the summer easily has been the news that full enforcement of nursing homes’ new survey system will be postponed a year.
Providers just have to look for their bright spots
By
James M. Berklan
May 04, 2016
Long-term care operators have plenty of reasons to recoil and lick their wounds over the course of a year. But sometimes they need to seek the light and resist the “woe is us” mentality.
Nurses again rated tops, but you’d hardly know it
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 03, 2012
Sometimes long-term care nurses feel like step-sisters to their acute-care counterparts. Face it: Hospital nurses usually get the glory.
Star ratings? Give ’em two big thumbs down
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 01, 2009
For a while, it appeared the feds had pulled it off: Nobody was going to be watching the right hand while the left hand fiddled away.
Working the angles as ranking system nears
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 01, 2008
If there’s one thing I learned long ago as a journalist, it’s that the ratings game is a double-edged sword. It doesn’t matter if it’s a high school football team or a movie you’re...